Southern and central Virginia producers may be eligible for the Virginia Precision Agriculture and Farm Efficiency Grant Program funded Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission. For this program, $505,000 was approved to encourage producers to incorporate new practices and enhance their farm’s operations. These practices will improve environmental management through the adoption of precision technologies such as:
Produce handling
Hay storage facilities
Produce equipment
Livestock handling equipment
The grant offers producers in 20 counties the opportunity to apply for a reimbursement of up to $5,000 per producer. This project includes the counties of Amelia, Appomattox, Bedford, Brunswick, Buckingham, Campbell, Charlotte, Cumberland, Dinwiddie, Franklin, Greensville, Halifax, Henry, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway, Patrick, Pittsylvania, Prince Edward, and Sussex. Producers must spend a minimum of $3,000 to be eligible for a 33 percent reimbursement. The maximum amount awarded is $5,000 (approximately a $15,000 project).
To receive an application, producers must attend the informational meeting held at the Southern Piedmont Agriculture Research and Extension Center in Blackstone, 2375 Darville’s Road, Blackstone, Virginia 23824. The meeting will be accessible in person or via zoom Monday, March 28, 2022, at 6 p.m. Agents in each county will hold additional educational meetings in April to explain the program and administer applications.
Funding is limited and will be provided to producers on a first-come-first-serve basis with special consideration given to producers who have never received a Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission Grant before. For more information on this program, contact your local extension agent at (276) 634-4650, or the Campbell County Extension Office at (434) 332-9538.
